FOUR HUNDRED CBOs/NGOs IN KABAROLE DISTRICT: How Valid and Relevant are they?

“We have four hundred CBO/NGOs in Kabarole District, but not all are compliant to the law and functional” remarked Mr. Tadeo Balisanga the Community Development Officer (CDO) Kabarole District.

Mr. Balisanga said this at the NGO evaluation meeting held on 22.02.12 at Mucwa. Opening the meeting Balisanga noted that his office is mandated to register, coordinate and monitor the operations of all CBO/NGOs in the District. He however apologized for the continued inconsistence in conducting NGO coordination meetings which he attributed to inadequate resources.

Mr. Balisanga informed the meeting that he had received a communication from NGO Board warning him of the increased NGO operations in the country which need to be closely monitored because some of these organizations are allegedly involved in criminal campaigns/work. Accordingly NGO Board had requested his office for an update of all the registered organizations in the District and what they do; and to this he had called for this evaluation meeting.

Explaining the purpose of the meeting, Mr. Balisanga said it is to get all the organizations in Kabarole together to share their work with the District because many NGOs are doing work that the Government is not aware of. The meeting was to also remind the different organizations to regularly update/renew their registration with the District every two years.

He added that all organizations are expected to share their reports, budgets, and work plans with the District, asserting that “if Government can display their work plans and budgets why not Civil Society, I challenge you to walk the talk”

Responding to the CDO’s communication, members raised a number of issues expressing their dissatisfaction over the relationship between the District leadership and their operations. Members noted that most times both District and sub county leaders shun away from CBO/NGO meetings whenever called upon especially those that are not financially or adequately facilitated. This they said has created a big gap between the two parties and has left either suspicious of the other.

Lack of routine monitoring of CBOs/NGOs by the District leadership was also raised by the members saying this is the reason why Government has continuously undermined the contribution of CSOs in society and also gets them framing CSOs as anti-Government agents.

Commenting on the unrecognized contribution CSOs were making in Society one Mr. Mihanji of Parents Concern revealed that his Organization had built eight permanent houses for widows in Fort portal Municipality alone costing over 180million but it is unfortunate that the District/Municipality is not even aware and appreciative of this. He appealed for a closer collaboration between Government and CSOs.

In addition to this, the meeting also appreciated the fact that many organizations are not familiar with the NGO policy and requirements and at this it was recommended that the office of the CDO should get this policy distributed to the CBOs/NGOs in the District.

President Museveni Signs Anti-Homosexuality Bill

President Museveni has just signed the Anti-Homosexuality Bill into law.

This legislation will institutionalize hatred and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people in Uganda. Its passage into law signals a very grave episode in the nation’s history.”

“The Anti-Homosexuality Bill will further criminalize consensual sexual activity between adults of the same sex, with some offences carrying life imprisonment. It also includes offences such as ‘promotion of homosexuality’, which will directly impact human rights defenders and healthcare providers. It makes a mockery of the rights enshrined in the Ugandan constitution.”

Uganda has become more repressive recently. In the last 6 months it has brought into law the Public Order Management Act, then the Anti-Pornography bill and now the Anti-Homosexuality Bill. 

Fort Portal leaders summoned

Kabarole- Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee has summoned Fort Portal Municipality officials to appear before it to explain why they failed to account for public funds.

The Committee vice chairman, Mr Oddo Tayebwa, said Fort Portal municipality authorities were implicated in abuse of funds meant for government projects.

“According to the Auditor General’s reports for 2010/2011 and 2011/2012, funds in Fort Portal municipality were mismanaged and embezzled and there was no documentation and accountability,” Mr Tayebwa said without disclosing how much money was unaccounted for.
 The committee has summoned Fort Portal Municipal town clerk to appear before it on November 27.

However the Fort Portal mayor Mr Edison Asaba Ruyonga said the current municipal town clerk was not summoned.

“There could be misappropriation of funds and we have ever reported it to the IGG or local government minister. But this was with the regime of former town clerk and not Edward Lwanga (the current town clerk),” Asaba said. for more information visit: editorial@ug.nationmedia.com and  Monday
November 25,  2013 daily monitor

RETIRED BISHOP OF RWENZORI DIOCESE YOSTUS KAMANYIRE AMOOTI, 79, IS DEAD.

The cleric died at Nakasero Hospital, Kamanyire had been battling with high blood pressure. He suffered a stroke on October 4 and ever since, his health had been deteriorating, was admitted to Kabarole Hospital with high blood pressure, but when the situation worsened, he was transported to Kampala.

THERE IS NEED FOR MINDSET CHANGE FOR FARMERS IF THEY ARE TO ENGAGE IN COMMERCIAL AGRICULTURE, WHICH WILL SPUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, A NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY SERVICES (NAADS)

Dr. Francis Byekwaso, planning manager at NAADS secretariat pointed out that countries such as Japan, South Korea and China have transformed their economies as a result of mindset change of its people.
“The biggest challenge we have as a country is of leaders and farmers who don’t want to change their mindset into new methods of agriculture,” Byekwaso said
“We need to see changes in agriculture and MPs and agricultural leaders should be at the forefront to transform agriculture,” he stated.
He informed an audience that it was for this reason government set up a national farmers leadership centre for mindset transformation.

Better seeds
He said farmers need to change their thinking from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture.
Byekwaso said government is working on a system of seed production to ensure that poor farmers as well as farmers associations have access to improved seeds.
The NAADS official was addressing farmers, researchers and members of civil society during a national dialogue on financing agricultural extension services in Uganda at Hotel Africana in Kampala.
The dialogue was organized by Civil Society Advocacy Group.
The planning manager urged civil society organizations to devise practical ways of improving agricultural extension services rather than dwelling on theory.
“There is a tendency of focusing on theory instead of pursuing practical strategies,” he said.
Sophie Nampewo, a research officer at ACODE stressed the need for integrating traditional extension services with NAADS programme to minimize resource and service duplication.

WAYS TO STAY YOUNG AND FIT

Break a sweat every day

Challenge yourself every day to participate in a physical activity that causes you to get out of breath or sweat. To change your body, you must train outside of your comfort zone. If you like your body the way it is, then don't stress it. But if you want to build strength, get a six-pack or lose fat, then work hard.
When exercising, you should not be able to carry on a conversation with your buddy.

Go back to grade school

You did it all when you were younger: jumped rope, climbed trees, went bike riding and ran sprints around the playground. You couldn't sit still long enough to stay at a desk or computer like you do now.
Become more active. Go for a walk or jog in the morning before starting your day. Join a group fitness class, recreational league, swim club, ski or bowling team.

Use what you have

Look around and take a quick inventory of what's available to exercise with. Do you have a bike, rope, old tires to flip, chains to pull, balls to throw, boxes to jump on or paint cans to carry? If you have some of this stuff and a creative mind, you can put together a great workout. You don't need a expensive gym membership to look expensive. (Got a rope

Eat clean

By eating as clean as you can, you'll automatically avoid foods loaded with sugar, trans fat, and saturated fat. Eat foods that display a variety of colors more frequently, and keep everything in moderation. Plan time to go to the grocery store so you are not rushed. Also, plan your weekly meals ahead of time..)

Rest as hard as you work

There's a fine line between the amount of work you do and the rest that you allow yourself. Rest can take the form of physical rest, or, for most of us, mental rest. Exercising, deep breathing, and vacations will take care of your mental rest. If you feel physically exhausted, try switching up your workout routine or take a week off. You will come back fresh and ready to do more.

GOVT TO RE-REGISTER ORPHANAGES COUNTRY WIDE

With the increasing cases of child sexual abuses and child trafficking in the Uganda, Government has resolved to re-register all orphanages and child care centers in the country said Minister Mary Karooro Okurut. The move is aimed at weeding-out organizations masquerading as children's home with hidden motives and knowing the genuine number of children homes.
Gender, labour and social development minister, Mary Karooro Okurut, said all orphanages and organizations looking after children have up to January 30, 2014 to register with the ministry.
She said they will tour all orphanages and child organizations in the country and those found not registered will be closed and owners arrested.
 “All orphanages, child care centers, child homes and other organizations looking after children have to register with the ministry of gender. We have realized that many start child homes with different motives,” she added.
She said no one will ever be allowed to start a child home without the ministry’s approval. According to records, only 35 orphanages are fully registered by the ministry out of about 600 orphanages in the country.
Karooro said, in many of the homes children are starved, sexually abused and are in poor hygienic conditions.
“Other children are taken by foreigners to unknown places in different countries. We want this to end,” she noted.